UNM students assisting with the market.
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Market of the Month: Lobo Growers Market at UNM
The Lobo Growers Market has been a great addition
to the University of New Mexico campus over the past year. To learn more about this market and how it originated we talked Rose Chavez, the
market manager and founder.
Where did the idea for the Lobo Growers Market
originate?
Upon research for my class practicum to benefit the campus or community, I saw that the University of California at
Davis had a market and since we have such a rich agricultural history here in NM I thought it would be a great venue to help build infrastructure and
bring awareness to our local agriculture initiatives.
What is your background and why did you become the
market manager?
I am the 8th of 9 children and my family comes from a
ranching and farming background. I hold a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, I currently am applying to medical school, and I hold two minors
one in Chemistry and one in Sustainability Studies. I became a market manager by taking this project on as my capstone project for the UNM SSP 449
class - connecting my passion for sustainable agriculture with health and wellness. I see this initiative very much as a public health
initiative and want to improve the wellness of the UNM student body, faculty, staff and ABQ community while helping to build infrastructure and
capacity for more local farms.
What is the goal of having a market on UNM
campus?
To establish a permanent sustained growers market on campus
that helps build and grow the local food shed - and to inspire young people to pursue careers that support food security, cultural awareness, and a
healthy UNM student body.
How many vendors do you usually have present, and what
other groups or activities are present at the market?
We usually host between 40-60 vendors with a variety of
farmers bringing produce. We also have business owners with value added products, and a variety of cross sector organizations around food and
sustainability issues present.
Are students and faculty receptive to the market?
Yes - very receptive and would like the market to take place
on a weekly basis.
Congratulations Rose on creating a successful market and
bringing fresh local food to the UNM campus! Be sure to check out the upcoming UNM Lobo Growers Markets on October 21st and November 2nd,
from 10 am to 2 pm. The market is located on UNM's Main Campus at Cornell Plaza, north of the UNM Bookstore and Popejoy Hall.
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